''Black Hearts in Battersea'' is a children's novel by

Joan Aiken Joan Delano Aiken (4 September 1924 – 4 January 2004) was an English writer specialising in supernatural fiction and children's alternative history novels. In 1999 she was awarded an MBE for her services to children's literature. For ''The ...

first published in 1964. The second book in the Wolves Chronicles, it is loosely a sequel to her earlier '' Wolves of Willoughby Chase''. The book is set in a slightly altered historical England—during the reign of King James III—in the early 19th century, and follows the adventures of Simon, an orphan whose plans to study painting in London are derailed by high adventure. Aiken was inspired to create an atmosphere of important events having already transpired offstage (which was helped by the fact that a great deal of the beginning had to be left out due to length), and also included an involved "

Dickensian Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian er ...

plot" which she believed to complement the habit many children have of rereading or having a book reread to them.

TV adaptation

In 1995, the book was adapted by James Andrew Hall into a television series by James Andrew Hall, airing on

BBC1 BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...

from 31 December 1995 to 11 February 1996.

Cast list

Mark Burdis Mark Burdis (born 2 March 1968) is an English actor who started his career at the age of six in 1974 in the ''Plague of London'' (LWT). He currently works as a boxing ring announcer, and is a co-owner of Roma Security Ltd. Early life He attende ...

as Scrimshaw *

Jade Williams Jade Williams (born 21 May 1988 in Sidcup, Greater London, England, UK) professionally known as Whinnie Williams is a British independent pop singer, interior designer & presenter. She founded interiors brand Poodle & Blonde in 2018 and is host ...

as Dido * Roger Bizley as Captain Dark *

Annette Badland Annette Badland (born 26 August 1950) is an English actress known for a wide range of roles on television, radio, stage, and film. She is best known for her roles as Margaret Blaine in the BBC science fiction series ''Doctor Who'', Mrs. Glen ...

as Dolly Buckle * John Altman as Midwink * Gemma Sealey as Sophie * William Mannering as Simon * Richard Woods as Boy with Wheelbarrow *Choponopopy Chanvleguis as Chuncky

Radio adaptation

A BBC Radio dramatisation by Lin Coghlan, directed by Marc Beeby, of Joan Aiken's classic children's adventure. Starring

Joe Dempsie Joseph Maxwell Dempsie (born 22 June 1987) is an English actor, best known for his roles as Chris Miles in the E4 teen comedy-drama '' Skins'' (2007–2008) and Gendry Baratheon in ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2013; 2017–2019). Dempsie's e ...

as Simon, Nicola Miles-Wilden as Dido, and

Emerald O'Hanrahan Emerald O’Hanrahan (born 1986) is an English actress known for playing Emma Grundy in ''The Archers'' on BBC Radio 4. Early life She was born and grew up in Cambridgeshire. Educated at St Mary's School, Cambridge until 2002, where she took p ...

as Sophie.Afternoon Drama: ''Black Hearts in Battersea''

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...

Part One: Young Simon comes to 18th century London to study painting - and finds himself caught up in wicked Hanoverian plots to overthrow the King. Broadcasts: BBC Radio 4, 14:15 Wed 23 Dec.2009. 14:15 Wed 21 Dec.2011. Part Two: To save the King from Hanoverian plotters Simon and Sophie must first suffer shipwreck, attacks by wolves and a narrow escape from an exploding castle, in a hot air balloon. Broadcasts: BBC Radio 4, 14:15, Thu 24 Dec.2009. 14:15, Thu 22 Dec.2011.

Cast list

*SIMON ..... Joe Dempsie *DIDO ..... Nicola Miles-Wildin *SOPHIE ..... Emerald O'Hanrahan *DUKE ..... John Rowe *DUCHESS .....

Sheila Reid Sheila Reid (born 21 December 1937) is a Scottish actress, known for playing Madge Harvey in the ITV sitcom ''Benidorm'' (2007–2016). An original member of the Royal National Theatre in 1963, she played Bianca in the National's 1965 film ver ...

*COBBE ..... Ben Crowe *MRS COBBE .....

Annabelle Dowler Annabelle Dowler (born 1974) is an English actress. She was born and raised in Formby, Merseyside, and attended Holy Family High School. She studied Spanish and Drama at the University of Bristol before touring Spain with a bilingual drama group. ...

*MR TWITE ..... Rhys Jennings *MRS TWITE ..... Tessa Nicholson *JUSTIN ..... Sam Pamphilon *BUCKLE ..... Nigel Hastings *MRS BUCKLE ..... Kate Layden *DR FURNEAUX ..... Bruce Alexander *DR FIELD .....

Ewan Hooper Ewan Hooper (born 23 October 1935 in Dundee) is a Scottish actor who is a graduate from, and now an Associate Member of, RADA. Hooper was the motivating force in the foundation of the Greenwich Theatre, which opened in 1969. Hooper was the foun ...

*MOGG ..... John Biggins *GUS ..... Joseph Cohen Cole *JABWING ..... Piers Wehner *WOMAN ..... Kate Layden

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Hearts In Battersea 1964 British novels 1964 children's books British children's novels English novels Novels by Joan Aiken British alternative history novels Children's historical novels Novels set in the 19th century Novels about orphans Doubleday (publisher) books Jonathan Cape books British novels adapted into television shows Novels adapted into radio programs